Opposing X-Mart makes little sense

Regarding the Rev. W. Chuck Hunt's letter "Moral Augustans don't want X-Mart" (July 29): The Rev. Hunt refers to Augusta as a "Christian city." During my 33 years in Augusta, I have heard it called many things, but never "Christian." I have always preferred a "Garden City." It gives an illusion of beauty and peace, whereas "Christian city" tags it as judgmental and moralizing.

As for the "city leaders living by high moral standards," the commissioners' images are tainted by self-serving racial bias in the guise of Christians. They are led by a mayor who will be remembered only as the photo-op king. As for the Coliseum Authority, it is merely the pile of ashes that result after pouring "stupid" gas onto a "crazy" fire.

X-Mart would sell the same materials found on the Internet. The difference is that what's sold on the Internet does not contribute to the Richmond County tax base, but what will be sold at X-Mart would. Do we turn away a business that sells to a public who can buy the same things on the Internet during times when Augusta needs all the tax monies it can get? If there were not a demand for these materials, the X-rated book stores would cease to exist in nearby communities.

This letter is not to imply that I support the sale of pornography, nor that I will patronize X-Mart, but it is my right to choose. America is in a time of economic crisis -- soldiers dying in an unnecessary war; people suffering from disease who cannot afford health care; and an environment going down the sewer. Yet all these moralists have to worry about -- using Christianity as their weapon -- is where John Q. Public spends his time and his money.

They shouldn't waste their time worrying about the X-Mart. They should spend it on constructive ideas about the real problems in our community.

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"Do we turn away a business that sells to a public who can buy the same things on the Internet during times when Augusta needs all the tax monies it can get?" Well, Don, drawing from an old joke: We now know that you have no moral compass. You're just wanting to know how much you can get in exchange for changing true North.

Tate says: "As for the "city leaders living by high moral standards," the commissioners' images are tainted by self-serving racial bias in the guise of Christians. They are led by a mayor who will be remembered only as the photo-op king."

So Don, do you claim the "moral" stature to pass judgement on the Commissioners and the Mayor?

Will those who know nothing about when legal fees can be recovered please stop singing from the songbook of the X-Mart lawyers. That threat has no basis in reality. It's really the oldest tactic known to lawyers: If neither the law nor the facts support your claim, try to scare and confuse.

I wonder if Mr. Tate (Evans) and williston (SC) pay taxes in Richmond County? Probably neither do nor do they live in south Augusta and probably never drive down Gordon Hiway. It is good to see people concerned about how tax dollars are spent but sometimes you have to wonder why.

Here we go again. Please go to church and worry about your souls and stop trying to judge others. It's their right to open a business. As far as worrying about causing the crime rate to raise in this area? I doubt that will happen. If this is what Augusta calls the gateway to the city then visitors may want to turn around at the gate. It's just a matter of time before they finally get to open. You cannot legislate morals. In the end the courts will decide in favor of X-Mart and the city will have to pay damages and that's not a scare tactic that's reality. Remember we live in the time that a woman can win 400,000 dollars for spilling a hot cup of coffee. Don't be so naive to think that there will not be a big settlement in this case. The commision screwed the pooch on this one. X-Mart played by their rules and they will eventually open. If you don't want to solicit their place of business that is your right. It is not your right to be able to legislate your moral views on the rest of the world. The constitution protects the sinners as well as the saints.

Taxpayers will get stuck with the legal fees regardless who wins. Although it is true, people are getting their items from the Internet, look at how much more it costs them to get! Those 1-900 phone bills are NOT as cheap as you let on, they rack up in the hundreds to thousands for a phone company for the usage of those. I for one will never step foot near the place, and when they are lacking enough business which I sure hope they do, then they will again close their doors permanently and move on to another different location OUTSIDE Augusta. Many people do NOT want them here, I am one of them.

The fact is that adult bookstores have a very long record of being protected by the supreme court is cases extectly like Augusta's. If our leaders would just educate themselves as to the precedent, they would run the other way from this case and save us all some leagal fees. X-mart WILL win. the law law is behind them. It has nothing to do with god or morality. It's legal.

What's so terribly amusing is that all these anti-porn crusaders seem to fail to realize how much money they're directly contributing to the owner of the porn shop. When the owner wins these cases - and they will, no doubt there - they're gonna get one heckuva windfall in money, all compliments of the moral crusaders. Good job, folks!

The real bottom line is that the government here is trying to protect our area from having places of business such as this. I guarantee that each and every one of you who are saying that we should just sit by and allow this place to open would NOT want this place to open next door to your house or in your neighborhood! Don't lie and tell us otherwise. Also remember that, not far from this X-Mart is the hotel-turned-spa retreat complex specifically for homosexuals. So, in other words, the area already has it's share of depravity and immorality. And for Don Tate and people like him, it's very easy to judge churches and the people who attend them, but you have got to remember something I once read on a roadside sign in front of a church that is perfect for people like you, and really for all of us, to remember..."Churches are hospital for sinners, not museums for saints."! And, personally, Mr. Tate, yes..I do think that you would be a valued and frequent customer at the X-Mart.

Wylds, why does anyone who opposes this smut based on biblical principles have to be considered, JUDGMENTAL. When I spoke yesterday about knowing the Lord, I did not condemn anybody especially you to hell. Knowing God means understanding and knowing his ways. What I find by the other comments on here is that people want the freedom to have pornographic sex shops that are destroying the gift of sex between married couples. When a Christian says anything about it we are considered, as judgmental and prudes. It just show the sickness of our society. The constitution cannot protect people against the judgment of God.

Of course you would not want it located next door to your home or neighborhood. That is why there are things called "commercial zoning" and "residential zoning". I can bet that the majority of you commenting probably do not live within a five mile radius of the present X-Mart location. To the owner and staff of the X-Mart, I admire your persistence, resilience, and patience. I am sure it will pay off. I am from MILSAG Entertainment, Augusta's top modeling agency. I look forward to doing big things with you in the future.

tarbaby, your job explains it all. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. You don't care about the women you exploit or the marriages I have to counsel as a minister because pornography has ruined their sexual lives and led to adultery.

tarbaby, by his own admission, is an admirer of pornograghers. He wants to work with/for them. Tarbaby? Is your mother proud of those facts? How about your children? Are they happy to know that their father doesn't care at all, or is even looking forward to, one day having his children grow up to be in XXX films and be assaulted everyday with exposure to drugs and diseases? And when I alluded to people not wanting these places of business being located next door, it was an example of how people realize that these sorts of businesses bring other trashy sorts of activity along with them. If you don't believe me, call any police department IN THE COUNTRY and ask them. They'll tell you that what follows is a marked increase in prostitution, drugs trafficking, and violent behavior. Go ahead, call them....if you really care to know. But, for some reason, I don't think you really do care.

so just my opinion you would say the 500 block of broad st is a success story?the store in n augusta doesn't have any of that either.the 500 block gives apd more headaches than anywhere else.the fights,thefts,prostitution on ellis st.can you cite any statistics that say this store was a nuisance?trashy people are everywhere,go to a walmart after 11 pm or anytime really and see all the lowlifes you want.

eddie, don't get into semantics. You know as well as I do that the city government were forced to grandfather in those strip clubs downtown. As soon as the current owners die off, then the city has the right to force them closed. The owners are not allowed to sell the clubs off to someone else that would keep the operations in perpetuity. And, no, they are not a "success story", and I never insinuated that they were. I know plenty of police who will tell you that prositution and drugs are symbiotic activities from the strip clubs. It may not occur directly beside the strip clubs, or the adult bookstores, but it happens not far away. Of course there are "lowlifes" everywhere you go, but most people know not to go to certain places after a certain time of night. And frankly, I think the strip clubs downtown may not have the crimes occuring within them because they know that anything of the sort would certainly close them down just like that!

You use your religious beliefs to try and dictate to others how they should live. The constitution governs the USA not God. Atheists have the same protections under the constitution as you. Why should they have to live under religious morals that you accept and they don't. You still don't get it that under a free society you have to live with things you don't like. That's freedom for all. As to the other posters about would you want this in your neighborhood...what neighborhood? There are no houses within miles of this place. It's all about legal rights not moral rights. Also Mr. Brim you have made an earlier comment in the discussions about where were all the hot teachers having innappropriate relations with kids when you were in school. Talking out of both sides of your mouth? Lusting in your heart is the same as committing the act! You also advocated taking all the poor people in the housing projects and locking them in the old regency mall under armed guard. Yep you sound like a good christian to me. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Big difference between a joke and reality Mr. Atheist. You got so offended that I said I would pray that you would know God and now you admit that you don't which was pretty evident. But arguing with you is futile because the bible says that the natural man does not receive the things of God and neither can he understand because he is spiritually depraved. Only when you come to have Jesus in your heart will you understand what evil such a place as the X-mart provides.

See there you go judging me again Mr. Christian. I am not an atheist. I also did not get offended you said you would pray for me. You only get a few snippets of the conversation. True christians are true to their beliefs all the time. Not just when it suits them. A sexual joke is bad no matter the intent. One advocating child molestation is even worse. You don't have to pray for me to alleviate your guilty conscience. I pray for myself. I also pray for those that do not have as much as I. I don't advocate locking them up like trash. Like I said before what if muslims were the dominant religion in this country. Would you want to be forced to exercise their religious beliefs? What you are implying is that everyone should follow your religious laws. I am fine with my god but maybe you should work on your relationship with yours and your fellow man. Hypocrite.

Come on! On earth we have to accept the consequences of our sins, jail or even the death penalty. But if you hold bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart towards these people and set yourself up as the judge then you place yourself in the same position to be judged. Just a thought. These are your words.....perhaps you should live by them.

Well no I wasn't angry at you at first. Really enjoyed the debate. When you started the name calling and accusations you made it personal. I believe in God and and I believe he sent his son to die for our sins. That being said I also believe in the constitution. I don't want anyone legislating their religious beliefs because of the other side of that situation. Just imagine, for a moment, that islam (the fastest growing religion in the world) becomes the majority religion in this country. Would you want to conform to their rules just because they were the dominant religion? That's the only point I was making. With freedom comes responsibility. You cannot legislate morals or religious beliefs in a democracy.

I appreciate the debate with everyone's different point of view. However, as I have said before "The way I see it is that X-Mart wants a business license to operated in a location which is zoned for business. The suit is because the business license has been denied without any LEGAL justification. Another waste of taxpayer dollars defending an indefensible position." And yes, I am an Augusta/Richmond County taxpayer.

Exactly how many people or teenagers have been killed due to porn? Seems to me alcohol and drugs is more of a threat to our people and kids than porn, b/c if they dont c it there @ X-Mart it will be seen somewhere else. They have Liquor Stores in business areas and I agree "Another waste of taxpayer dollars defending an indefensible position."